Designer Interview: PATCH NYC Does a Collection for Target

The Shops at Target's new collections are set to launch in stores and online September 9. In preparation, Boston-based PATCH NYC had a preview party in their courtyard last Wednesday, showcasing their exclusive home line for the bullseye. I sat down with designers Don Carney and John Ross to get the scoop on the collaboration.

After starting up in New York in 1997, Don and John moved PATCH NYC to Boston in 2010. The Target collection includes barware, bedding, tabletop, and decorative accents inspired by their love of nature, travel, and flea market finds.

How did you get involved with Target?Last summer, we received a phone call, totally out of the blue; someone from Target had visited the shop and thought we might be a good fit for The Shops at Target. Soon after that, they came to visit us at our workspace to see if it would work.

You don't get a phone call like that every day! We thought maybe it was a joke.

What was your inspiration for the collection?A couple different things inspired us. When [Target] came to visit, we presented them with a theme that reoccurs for us every fall: woodland, with a dark, spicy palette, often times animal imagery. Though we wanted to shake it up a bit. We both like Art Deco geometrics, so we introduced some of that imagery and provided them with some vintage items to get inspired by. They're kind of two unexpected themes that can work together when done right. And that's always been our aesthetic, too, to combine things that maybe you wouldn't expect to see together. That's where the name PATCH came from.

What are your favorite items from the Target collection?We both really like the cookie jar. Don: My favorite is the fox lamp. John: My favorite is the bedding. I've always wanted to do bedding and I really enjoy sleeping. And I think it feels beautiful.

Where are your favorite places to shop and find inspiration in Boston and New England?Oftentimes we'll drive to Maine. We search through little junk and antique shops in Ogunquit or Wells. One of the great things about Boston is its proximity to other states. In terms of inspiration, we love the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. The structure, the space, the courtyard — obviously, we love courtyards — it's just a really beautiful small-scale museum.

Prices range from $4.99 to $119.99. Check out PATCH NYC at Target in stores and online starting September 9.